Christian Book Notes

This weeks interview is with Martin Murphy.  Martin has just recently started a brand new publishing company, the Theocentric Publishing Group.  This brand new publishing group is dedicated to publishing solid, Christian books.  If you have a book you would like to see published, check them out.  You can read reviews of Martin’s books here.

Christian Book Notes (CBN): Please share your testimony of how you came to know Jesus Christ as both Lord and Savior.

Martin Murphy: My conversion from agnosticism to Christianity took place when I was 32 years old. All of us have kairotic moments (a turning point), an antepenultimate moment, when something changes the way we think or we have an experience that changes the way we live. I was hospitalized for what may have been a life threatening problem and while I was in the hospital I started reading the Bible. My unbelief turned into faith in Christ and my life has never been the same since.

(CBN): Could you share a little more about yourself?

My wife was the religious person in the family, so she was in the background praying that I would become a Christian. After I was converted, I started reading the Bible and attending worship at a local church and going to every Bible study I could find time to attend. My appetite for understanding God’s word and discovering the truth about God was not satisfied, so I decided to pursue studies at a reputable college. I found Columbia International University , formally known as Columbia Bible College and Seminary, and spent four years as a full time student graduating with a B.A. in Bible.

Without any break I pursued my graduate work at Reformed Theological Seminary and finished with an M. Div. After seven straight years of education, I decided to consolidate my gains and began research and writing while I continued to preach and teach in the local church. I believe a wise reckoning of time is necessary to allow opportunities to develop from the knowledge God has given me, so now I devote much of my time writing books and posting essays on my web site Rational Christian Thoughts.

(CBN): You recently wrote a book about church growth. In it, you are pretty negative towards most church growth concepts. Is there anything good to be found in what they are doing?

First let me give you a little background. I was instrumental in planting two churches early in my ministry. I attended a church growth seminar and there I realized a serious problem existed that was intrinsic in the church growth movement. A very popular and well known minister held the seminar on preaching. He made one comment that turned me against the movement: “people don’t listen to preachers.”

That was in 1990 and I started reading everything I could get my hands on about the subject of church growth and especially the church growth movement. I compared what I read to the word of God on the subject of church growth and found serious conflicts. The emphasis among many of the advocates of the church growth movement is relational theology, managerialism, psychology, and worship that is “non-threatening” to the unbeliever.

The Bible speaks clearly about relationships among Christians in the two dozen of more one another commandments like love one another, teach on another, et al. The Bible speaks abundantly about stewardship, but it does not teach that elders, especially the pastor, should use unbiblical management to make the church prosper. There is nothing wrong with psychological analysis, unless the remedy is contrary to the word of God. The primary purpose of life and existence is to worship God, the way He desires, not the way that will make unbelievers comfortable. The one good thing that I find among the church growth movement advocates is their zeal to see unbelievers come to the Lord. Unfortunately, I believe they are doing it the wrong way.

(CBN): You have also published a pocket dictionary of theological terms. What prompted the writing of that book?

I had a seminary professor that gave a mid-term exam using nothing but theological and philosophical terms, names, and concepts. The student was required to define them using no more than two sentences. I started saving and defining unusual and important terms and eventually believed that other Christians, especially laymen, may benefit by having a book of those terms.

(CBN): Can we expect anything more from your pen?

If the Lord gives me health, strength, and a sound mind I plan to publish 10 to 12 books over the next couple of years. I’ve just finished the manuscript entitled “The Essence of Christian Doctrine.” It is written so layman or church leaders will have a summary of necessary Christian doctrine.

Most of the upcoming books will be brief commentaries on books of the Bible. I’m working on the first one now entitled “Religion in Reverse” and will consist of 17 chapters. The next one will be from 2 Corinthians entitled “The Ministry of a Minister.” Then I will alternate doing an Old Testament book and a New Testament book. I’d like to squeeze in a novel, based on my experience with churches, and finally I pray the Lord will give me the time to write a sequel to “The god of the Church Growth Movement.” It would be entitled “The God of Church Growth” based on my study and research from the Book of Acts. By the grace of God, D.V.

(CBN): If you had one chance to say something to anyone, what would it be?

I wish every preacher and every church member would read my sermon notes on Ezekiel 33: 1-11. I believe the Holy Spirit would use that text to bring about reformation in the church.

(CBN): Where can we find more about your books?

Yes, the name of the site is “Writing My Books.” It is so named because I asked my wife what should I name the website. She said “writing my books.” She said “every time I ask what you’re doing you say ‘writing my books.’”